Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment reworked

Object Details

• Description

  Ceremonial weapon: Short, broad blade of mottled gray and gray green nephrite; weapon type; one conical perforation pierced from both sides.

• Provenance

  Reportedly excavated in Anyang, Henan province, China [1]

  From at least 1940 to 1941

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from at least November 12, 1940 [2]

  From 1941

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on March 20, 1941 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to information provided by C. T. Loo to John E. Lodge, see John E. Lodge's curatorial remark, dated 1941, in object file.

  [2] See "List of objects owned by C. T. Loo, New York […] at the Freer Gallery," with an annotation that the object was left by Loo on November 12, 1940, copy in object file.

  [3] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated March 20, 1941, where the object is described as "Knife jade (ko) greenish patina with splashes. Anyang Shang," copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Chinese Art of the Warring States Period: Change and Community, 480-222 B.C. (September 30, 1982 to February 17, 1983)

  Ancient Chinese Jade (September 4, 1980 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Bronze, Jade, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1955 (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1944 (November 15, 1944 to May 6, 1946)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to November 17, 1944)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

• Origin

  probably Henan province, China

• Culture

  Erlitou culture, ca. 2000-1600 BCE

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China, Henan province

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Erligang period, Early Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1400 BCE), Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Erlitou culture, Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects